continued Tissue expander pain!!

Cathee

Donna2001,

I had one expander that seemed stuck under my right armpit. I was filled to 760cc. I had limited range movement.  I just had the exchange yesterday and I can tell you it's wonderful.  They are all bandaged up but my armpit feels great!!!  It was the first thing I noticed after I woke up.  I will post pics of before during and after.  I think I get my bandages off on Friday.

Mocity

I had my BLM 9/08 and have taken slow, very slow fills since I had to have chemo.  Chemo ended four weeks ago and I have two fills left.  My exchange is April 23rd and I can't wait.  Now the expanders are really bothering me.  I think chemo was much more miserable i wasn't noticing.  Now I am ready to get these things out!  I hope it is the relief I am imagining!

smmr

Now that I have my exchange date set, my mind has been whirling with new questions!  I need help from you post exchange ladies.  I have a hard time imagining that these things can ever be soft again, especially when they are UNDER a muscle.  I have visions in my head that if I work out (lifting weights, resistance bands, etc. using my arms) that these pec muscles are going to squash the implants back into my ribs!!  Am I crazy for thinking this???

psalmist

Cathee -- I saw your post on another thread that you went to dinner after your exchange.  AWESOME!  I loved that.  Congratulations.

psalmist

Donna -- hang in there.  As my dad always said, "This too shall pass."  All they are doing is stretching your skin, and it can be a bizarre experience!  Your foobs will look pretty unnatural for awhile - but the exchange is (from my research) completely different.  I have 600 cc, and I'm very lopsided, oversized, and it is HARD to dress these girls.  They aren't twins, that's for sure.  : )

donna2001

Thanks so much for your replies to my "arm pit expanders".  I was really beginning to think that maybe my wonderful PS has screwed up just a bit. I mean..seriously...I have huge breasts under my arm pits. 

mykidsmom: I'm glad to know that yours are not as bad and you can wear sweaters and such. I don't have an exchange date.  I have 14 more treatments of chemo and then 5-6 weeks of radiation....and then we wait 2 months or so....then have reconstruction.  So , not sure of exact date.  Will be October/November maybe. I cant believe I have to look like this for so long.  I am so discouraged.

Jeansbeans: I cant wait to read your story.  I am going to search back on the thread.  I also walk with my arms out and unless I wear a coat, it is so obvious in my shirts.  I don't know what I will do in the summer.  Why do you think ours turned out that way? I don't think its the norm.  I have seen pictures of beautiful expander placements. 

Cathee: Thank you for giving me something to look forward to. I would love to see your pics. I am so happy for you that you are free from those things!!

God is good.  I know I need to keep praying and relying on God.  I have been getting very discouraged lately.  Thank you all!!

donna2001

Thank you psalmist.  Your Dad is right "this to shall pass".  Thank for reminding me of that and letting me know that I am not alone. 

Nana7

I had bilat mast Jan 19 and just had TE placement on Feb 17, with initial fill of 300 each side. I can't believe how hard it is to do absolutely anything! I never took a pain med after mastectomy but am living on them now.

I am very full (or swollen) above where my breasts should be....almost up to my collar bone. Just helps to see your discussion that some seem to be in the wrong place....but also....how well everything seems after the exchange.

I'm usually a very strong person....but this almost has me whining! Almost!

Great husband helping me through every step.

Jeansbeans

HI ladies!!!  Just a word of hope and encouagement,  YES!!  The IMPLANTS are sooooooooo  Much softer, you will be playing with your NEW FOOBS as soon as you wake up!!!!!!! Just make sure when you are feeling yourself up you do it only with people who know what you are really doing!!!! heheheh. The only thing I have to get used to is when i lay down, The girls seem to drift under my arm.  I should have paid more attention to my breasts before cancer.  My PS said they always do that when you lay flat.  After your exchange, make sure you go to the new thread for girls that have had their exchange surgery.  It will be as popular as this one, as we are all going through this together, Stay strong , Gentle Hugs, Jeanie

Mykidsmom

Jeanie - Your vision of playing w/ my new foobs gave me quite a smile. Thanks.

Nana - I expect your discomfort will deminish over time. 300 cc is quite a bit for an initial fill. I am only at that now, and I had my TE's placed in mid December. Best wishes for more comfort! - Jean

kle

Nana,  I also think your discomfort could be from the amount of your fill.  I am just an A, but I had only 30 cc at surgery, and 60 cc each time....I've been filling since Sept and am only at 300cc total now.

Kle

Nana7

I guess he figured since I was 4 weeks out from BM Icould take 300. Thanks for the encouragement ladies. I am miserable but do know that time will help.

Best to you all.

CAZ

My left expander protruded into my armpit, but a pocket adjustment at TE exchange fixed it.

I had very low energy for 2 weeks after PBM w/ TE which scared me a great deal because I'm usually pretty high energy.  By the time I went back to work at 3 weeks, I was 95%.  Although everyone tried to carry the physical weight for me, I brushed them off telling them I was fine.  Now I regret not accepting the help.  Now they expect me to be 100% 24/7.  That may just have backfired.  I had to come home early from a conference in Vegas because one foob became painful, red, and swollen.  My PS thinks I tore some muscle heaving my bag off the carousel.  I'm on big time antibiotics just in case, and feel 60% better after 3 doses.

My word of warning: do 20% less than you think you can for 6 months after exchange. I'm 3 months out and was bumping along wonderfully.  Things go very well if you take care of yourself and let others help.

Carol(AZ)

Mykidsmom

Carol - What a wise post. We should send it to everyone out there about to go through this surgery. I too am very high energy and sometimes I find I hit a wall in the evening after a long day, and this is after more than two months after surgery. I am so sorry about your injury. Take it easy. - Jean

Cathee

Carol - I am glad I read your post.  I groom dogs, mostly big standard poodles in show trims and I thought I could get back to work in a month.  But maybe I should take it easy.  I don't want anything ripping open or falling out!!! LOL Thanks for the advice.

psalmist

Thanks for the encouragement, Jeanie!  I am SO ready to have my exchange, and hearing how happy everyone is afterward makes me feel very encouraged.

lewisfamily503

 This topic always makes me smile!   I remember those AWFUL tissue expanders and the pain they caused!!  I just want to echo the other women who have responded to this post and say that you will LOVE your permanent implants after those horrible hard expanders!!!!  It does take awhile for the final implants to become really soft as there is swelling after the exchange surgery.  So give it some time and be patient, but in the end, things WILL get better!!!  You just need to take a deep breath, relax, and give it some time!  Hugs, Anne

Mocity

Hugs to all the ladies and come here with some positive thoughts....... I get so upset.... no hair, no boobs, hard expanders, weight gain, my fingernails and toenails mostly gone......... I keep trying to tell myself these are all temporary things and get through the day but it sure is hard sometimes... THANK YOU

psalmist

Dear CristiC,

You look twenty!  I can't believe you are battling this monster at such a young age.  But you will win!!  And thankfully, you will have beautiful new breasts in spite of everything.  

Estepp

((((((((((((((((((((((((CristlC)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

We know sister... we know....I have to now leave my ROCKS in my chest until sept-oct. thanks to rads.. how am I going to dress in the summer.. they look good in cloths now.. but stupid in a tank... oh well............ such is cancer.... SUX!!!!!

But you are cared for here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND understood!

RubyCA

I am also almost two months  after mastectomy, and thought that the expander would get more comfortable, but my chest feels as hideously tight as ever. I have only had three fills of 40 cc each and dread going back for more.

Oxycodone takes the edge off but doesn't really do anything to resolve the  tightness-any suggestions? I am doing gentle stretching throughout the day, but my pectoral muscles don't seem to want to budge!

Sometimes I really wonder whether this is worth it, and think I should have opted for the prosthesis, but reading the postings of women who are happy with their implants is encouraging. Since I only had surgery on one side, I hope that the results will be reasonably symmetrical and realistic...

psalmist

Ruby,

I am seven months post mastectomy, still in the expander stage (finished with fills; awaiting exchange) and honestly, I still feel discomfort from my expanders.  I have to sleep in what one woman calls the "dying queen" position (half on my back, half on my side), and it took me months to get over the tightness.  After your fills are finished, your skin will loosen up over time.  It's going to get better.  Hold on!!!  This is a good place to come when you need uplifting.  We're all in this together.

Mykidsmom

Ruby - I will second Psalmist. The tightness does ease. I swear by the hot baths, a washcloth over the foobs and stretching daily. And I too have heard that the implants are SO much better! Hang in there, things will improve.

I need to go, I am off for another fill (I think). Take care. -Jean

warrior

psalmist----

I sleep in the same exact postion. I didn't know it was the "dying queen"...that's hilarious. I'm definitely a side sleeper and it's the closest thing to it!  Kind of half way there but it's the next best thing to sleeping on my side.  I really miss it.  Oh well, some day.

smmr

Must be the sleeping position of choice!!  Me too!! If I totally lay on my side and accidentally fall asleep that way, it's quite a job to get back in a comfortable position when I wake up.  It's like the girls weigh a ton!!  I only have to wait 6 weeks between my last fill and my exchange surgery.  I hope that's long enough for things to get stretched out.  I still have one fill left but after my last one I got that tight rubber band feeling around the top of my chest again.  I was hoping that feeling was gone for good!

psalmist

Here's to side sleeping and no more dying queens.  : )  Woo hoo!  Sue, I think 6 weeks will be enough time to stretch out.  I've had to wait three months but I remember after 6 weeks that things were looser.  One more fill and you're home free.  Cheers!

choward183

Hello ladies,

Today is two weeks from my bilateral mastectomy with tissue expanders, and I am experiencing a lot of pain from my left expander.  Whenever I move my left side, I feel pain, and it is sensitive to the touch.   I called my doctor, but he is in surgery and I am awaiting his call.  I took 2 extra strength Tylenol, but they aren't working.  I have some prescription pain meds, that I am going to take and then I am going to try to go to bed. 

Cathee

Choward183,

Are you allowed to take a warm shower yet?  That was a big relief for me. Take the prescription meds and prop yourself with all your pillows in bed.  Tylenol never touched the pain for me either.  It will get better.  Check here often with your questions.  The Ladies are wonderful support.

Gentle hugs to you tonight

choward183

Cathee,

Unfortunately, I am not able to shower yet? I still have the drains in.  I had very large breast, and I have two drains in each breast.  I went to the my plastic surgeon on Monday 2/16/09, but I was draining a lot of fluid, so he scheduled me to come back next Wednesday 2/25/09, and hopefully they will come out!  Thanks for the advice, I will take the prescription meds, and prop myself up with pillows.

Cathee

Choward183,

I sent you a PM.

Good night,